Life preserver-jacket or vest type



Sept. 1942- 1.. A. STRAITS 2,296,583

LIFE PRESERVER-JACKET 0R VEST TYPE Filed Aug. 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 '1 i i I fx llllllil ABYFIIIIJPIIIIIIIQZ:

do I INVENTOR J 2 MUG- a 4. 5mm,-

ATTORNEY p 1942- L. A. STRAITS 2,296,583

LIFE PRESERVER-JACKET OR VEST TYPE Filed Aug. 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,:5 6 INVENTOR BY Lloyd/l Sim/2'15 ATTORNEYi Sept. 22, 1942. A. STRAITS LIFE PRESERVER-JACKET OR VEST TYPE Filed Aug. 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 I lNVENTOR 'BY Lloyd 14. 51701715 a2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1942 LIFE PBESERVER-JACKET R VEST TYPE Lloyd A. Straits, United States Navy Application August 16, 1941, Serial No. 407,141

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 18 Claims.

This invention relates to a knapsack-type life preserver, and has for an object to provide a knapsack-type life preserver, that is, a life preserver which may be conveniently worn with the bulk thereof disposed in knapsack fashion across the back of the wearer so that it will not interfere with the wearer carrying out his usual duties aboard ship, yet will be in position for immediate use in an emergency at all times.

A further object of this invention is to provide a life preserver whose bulk will not interfere with the normal duties of the wearer and will permit the wearer to have the life preserver in a convenient position on his person, ready for instant use in an emergency without any loss of time, either in seeking a life preserver or in mounting it on his back.

A further object of this invention is to provide a life preserver worn on the back in knapsack fashion and provided with folded floatable extensions which may be readily detached from the back position and folded about the front of the wearer, together with means for securing such fioatable extensions across the front of the wearer, preferably before, but possibly after, entering into the water, and which, when once secured in the extended position across the front of the wearer, will provide such a surplus of floatability that the wearer will naturally float on his back with his head and face safely out of the water.

A further object of this invention is to provide a knapsack-type life preserver which may also have a collar, which collar may be foldable as well.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a floatable or knapsack-type life preserver wherein the flotation material may be solid, such as kapok, cellular rubber, balsa wood, or other similar solid material, or can be made of pneumatic material, that is, material adapted to be pneumatically inflated either by the lungs of the wearer or by other suitable means, such as compressed gas cartridges or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hv reinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a back elevational view of the knapsack-type life preserver of this invention, in knapsack or folded position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the life preserver with the extensions in unfolded position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view with the floatable extensions of the life preserver unfolded from the knapsack position and folded and ecured in the flotation position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show another form of this invention with the views corresponding to those shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; and

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are corresponding views of another form of the invention.

There is shown at Ill the knapsack-type life preserver of this invention, which consists of a body harness including shoulder straps ll connected to a life preserver back panel l2. Also secured to the back panel l2 are a pair of spaced apart body straps l3, each having a snap ring H at one end thereof and a snap buckle I! at the other end thereof. The life preserver per se includes a pair of foldable flotation extension panels I6, each connected by panels I! to the vertical edges of the flotation back panel I2. As will be observed from Fig. 4, the back panel l2 and the foldable flotation extension panels I 6 are each provided with solid flotation material l8, such material being of cork, cellular rubber, kapok, balsa wood or any other suitable material.

The outer corners 20 of the extension panels l6 are each provided with one portion of a cooperating snap fastener, the other portion of these cooperating snap fasteners being located at 2| on the opposite top and bottom sides of a center line of the panel l2.

In operation, the extensions l6 are folded across the back panel 12 with the snap fastener parts 20 and 2| in cooperative relation, as shown in Fig. 1. While in this position the life preserver may be placed on the wearer by simply mounting the shoulder straps ll over the wearer with the body straps 13 having their snap buckles 15 secured across the front of the wearer to snap rings II. In an emergency, the wearer may jump into the water with the panels in folded position, but preferably, if time permits, before jumping into the water the wearer may reach behind himself and grasp the panels I6 to separate the snap fasteners 20 and fold the panels about through the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to the position shown in Fig. 3, with the panels in overlapped position. In this position fastening straps 22 and 23 become available, having been firmly concealed within the folds and held in position by securing means 24 and loops 25. When the panel--|6 is in overlapped position the fastening straps 22 and 23 are tied as at 26 and 21' to hold the panels of the life preserver in overlapped folding position. Had time not permitted this latter operation before jumping into the water, which operation will not take over thirty seconds, even for an inexperienced person, the shock of striking the water will generally separate the snap fasteners 20 and 2|, and even if it does not, the same complete operation can be performed while in the water.

Due to the absence of any solid material immediately below the chin of the wearer, whether the life preserver be in the knapsack or in floating position, there is no dangerof the wearer being knocked unconscious by the life preserver as he jumps into the water.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 differs from the form just described,

- principally in the provision of a vest 30 that extends up from the back panel l2, over the shoulders and down to the top of the chest of the wearer, this vest 30 being held in position by the tie cords 3| and 32 and being provided with a foldable collar 33 which extends about the back and sides of the wearer. This vest 3|) takes the place of and provides the function of the shoulder straps ll of the previously described form of the invention. Other than these details, this form of the invention is substantially identical with the previously described form, having front panels IS, the body fastening strap l3 provided with its ring H and snap buckle I for holding the back panel in position with the flotation panel l6 held over the back of the wearer as by the snaps 20'.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8, 9. and 10, the life preserver 40 is of the pneumatic type rather than the solid type, as in the previous two forms. Two tubes 4| are provided for blowing air into the pneumatic life preserver 40. The pneumatic life preserver 40 is divided by a median line 42 extending through about the center of the back panel 43 and also up through a neck panel 44, the neck panel 44 being hinged to the back panel 43 along the line 45. This life preserver is fastened to the body by means of body straps 46 having snap rings 41 and snap buckles 48 for holding it in position while the extension panels 50 and 5| are overlapped over each other, as shown in Fig.

8, in knapsack fashion across the back of the wearer and held in such position by snap fasteners 52. The neck panel 44 is likewise held folded in knapsack fashion by means of snap fasteners 53.

To operate this form of the invention th wearer merely unsnaps the panels 52 and 53, draws the panels 50 and 5| about his chest in overlapped fashion, and fastens them in this position with the snap 54 and buckle 55 in the ends of the straps 56, and then blows up each half of the life preserver by means of the tubes 4| through valves 51. Alternatively, the valves 51 may be connected to a compressed gas cartridge to supply the pneumatic pressure for inflating the life preserver.

Other modifications and changes in the number (proportions) and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the nature of this invention, within the scope of what is hereinafter claimed.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of folded extendable flotation panels, body harness means for mounting said life preserver in folded position on the back of a person, and quick self-. releasable means holding said life preserver in said folded position, said self-releasable means permitting said life preserver extendable flotation panels to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means.

2. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of folded extendable flotation panels, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver in folded position on the back of a person, quick selfreleasable means holding said life preserver in folded position, said self-releasable means permitting said life preserver extendable flotation panels to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, and means for secur ing said flotation panels across the fro it of the wearer.

3. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a folded life preserver, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver on the back of a person, self-releasable means permitting said folded life preserver to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, and means for securing the unfolded ends of the life preserver across the front of the wearer with the unfolded ends in overlapped position to thereby impart greater buoyancy to the front of the wearer, causing the wearer to float on his back.

4. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of folded extendable flotation panels, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver on the back of a person, self-releasable means permitting said folded life preserver extendable flotation panels to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, and means for securing the unfolded panels of the life preserver across the front of the wearer with the unfolded panels in overlapped position to thereby impartgreater buoyancy to the front of the wearer, causing the wearer to float on his back.

5. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a folded life preserver, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver on the back of a person, self-releasable means holding said life preserver in folded position, said self-releasable means permitting said folded life preserver to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, means for securing the unfolded ends of the life preserver across the front of the wearer, and flotation collar means about the back of the neck of the wearer, said collar being attached to the upper portion of the back of the life preserver.

6. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of folded extendable flotation panels, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver in folded position on the back of a person, quick selfreleasable means holding said life preserver in folded position, said self-releasable means permitting said life preserver extendable flotation panels to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, means for securing said flotation panels across the front of the wearer, and flotation collar means about the back of the neck of the wearer, said collar being attached to the upper portion of the back panel of the life preserver.

7. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of folded extendable flotation panels, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver in folded position on the back of a person, quick selfreleasable means holding said life preserver in folded position, said self-releasable means permitting said life preserver extendable flotation panels to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, means for securing said flotation panels across the front of the wearer, and flotation collar means about the back of the neck of the wearer, said collar being attached to the upper portion of the back panel of the life preserver, said collar being hingedly folded on said folded life preserver.

8. A knapsack-type pneumatic life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of folded extendable flotation panels, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver in folded position on the back of a person, quick self-releasable means holding said life preserver in folded position, said self-releasable means permitting said life preserver extendable flotation panels to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, and means for securing saidlflotation panels across the front of the wearer, said folded life preserver being divided into two inflatable halves.

9. A knapsack-type pneumatic life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of folded extendable flotation panels, body harness means for mounting said folded life preserver in folded position on the back of a person, quick self-releasable means holding said life preserver in folded position, said self-releasable means permitting said life preserver extendable flotation panels to be unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the preserver is maintained in mounted position on the wearer by said body harness means, and means for securing said flotation panels cross the front of the wearer, said folded life preserver being di-' vided into two inflatable halves, said collar being similarly divided into two inflatable halves, one of said collar halves being pneumatically connected to one of said life preserver halves.

10. A life preserver comprising a buoyant unit including a plurality of portions adapted to be folded one with respect to the other, means securing said unit in folded relation upon the back of a wearer, means, releasable upon impact with the water, securing said portions in folded relation thereby assuring that the portions may float into unfolded relation when the wearer strikes the water, with such unfolded portions ready for fastening across the front of the wearer.

11. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising overlapped panels, and body harness means for mounting said overlapped panels on the back of a wearer and for maintaining the preserver in mounted position on the wearer while the panels are being unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer.

12. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising overlapped panels, self-releasable means holding said panels in overlapped position, and body harness means for mounting said overlapped panels on the back of a wearer and for maintaining 5 the preserver in mounted position on the wearer while the panels are being unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer. I 13. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising overlapped panels, self-releasable means holding said panels in overlapped position, body harness means for mounting said overlapped panels on the back of a wearer and for maintaining the preserver in mounted position on the wearer while the panels are being unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer, and means for securing the unfolded panels of the life preserver across the front of the wearer.

14. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of overlapped extendable flotation panels, and body harness means for mounting said overlapped and back flotation panels in folded position on the back of the wearer and for maintaining the back panel in mounted position on the wearer while said 5 overlapped panels are being unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer.

15. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a back flotation panel and a pair of overlapped extendable flotation panels, self-releasable means holding said overlapped flotation panels in folded position'on said back flotation panel, and body harness means for mounting said overlapped and back flotation panels in folded position on the back of the wearer and for maintaining the back panel in mounted position on the wearer while said overlapped panels are being unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer.

16. A knapsack-type life preserver compris- 40 ing overlapped panels, body harness means for mounting said overlapped panels on the back of a wearer, and a' flotation collar panel about the back of the neck of the wearer, said body harness means maintaining the preserver in mounted position on the wearer while the panel means are being unfolded and extended about the front of the wearer while the collar panel extends up about the back of the neck of the wearer.

1'7. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a pneumatic folded life preserver consisting of overlapped panels and body harness means for mounting said overlapped panels on the back of a wearer and for maintaining the preserver in mounted position on the wearer-while the panels are being inflated and extended about the front of the wearer. 18. A knapsack-type life preserver comprising a pneumatic folded life preserver consisting of overlapped panels and body harness means for no mounting said overlapped panels on the back of a wearer and for maintaining the preserver in mounted position on the wearer while the panels are being inflated and extended about the front of the wearer, said life preserver being divided into two inflatable halves, a pneumatic collar extending up from said preserver similarly divided into two inflatable halves, one of said collar halves being pneumatically connected to one of said life preserver halves, and the other of said collar halves being pneumatically connected to the other of said life preserver halves.

LLOYD A. STRAITS. 

